Micrasterias apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis, a scarce and interesting desmid from Mozambique.

• The fourth finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis in the world is recorded. • The first English description of the cell morphology are presented. • The first photographs of the variety are presented. • Previously published dimensions of cell sizes are adjusted. Although Micrasterias apiculata is widely distributed and frequently found in samples throughout the world, its variety M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis , has a very limited geographical distribution. It was previously found in only three locations in the world. The variety was originally described in 1908 from Java, Indonesia (southeast Asia) and 20 years later detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. The third finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis was during the late 1980's in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, but it was described incorrectly under the name M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata. M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata closely resembles M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis and due to similarities, it is proposed to reduce the name M. apiculata var. lacerata f. ornata as a synonym of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis. In this case, the current finding of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis , in samples from northern Mozambique near the Tanzanian border, represents the fourth record of its presence in the world, the third for Africa, and the first for Mozambique. Up to now only French and German descriptions, together with line drawings, of M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis were available. This paper presents the first English description of the cell morphology, as well as the first photomicrographs, illustrating structures previous portrayed in line drawings. Based on new findings, it is proposed that the minimum value of existing cell dimension ranges should be adjusted. A lectotype for M. apiculata var. tjitjeroekensis is designated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]